Machine for seasoning or finishing leather.



J. U. FLANGAN.

MACHINE FOR SEASONING OR FINISHING LEATHER.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. 14. 1916.

Patented' Feb. 26, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. U. FLANGAN.

Patenedl Feb. 26, 1918..

` 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. U. FLANAGAN.

MACHINE FOR SEASONING 0B FINISHING LEATHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1 4, 1916.

Patented. Feb. 26, 1.918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 INVENTOR WITNESSES ATToRNEYs 'entirelfv too much of the seasoning lliquid eine LFi' enie.

JAMEs U. FLANAGA, oF wILMIixiefronJ `niani-Awans, Assrenon To r. r. sLocoi'iB 8; co., In'conronn'rnn, or WILMINGTON, ,DELAWAR A` CORPORATION .or DELAWARE.

:ivrAoiiIlxiE'` Fon sE'As'oNIiiG oia E'Iii'isnine LEATHER.

specification of Letters Patent. i Ptnitd ]F@b 245, 19 18,

Application file'fi March 14, 1916. Serial No. 84,033.

to .spread the leather out flat inevery portion during the seasoning operation. n devices heretofore cinployed there. has alv'aysrbeen` a very considerable disadvantage on account of the liability of most all skins to be plaited or fold'ed over .in .portions principally i-n the :flank or foreshouldersof the skin. This results in what are terined (slips or portions of the skin which remain unseasoned, or lin forming` what are termed pockets meanino` a .portion of the skin which has received which "dries or cakes in the pocket and marks the skin.

My invontion consists in causing the aproii,

or bolster carrying the skin to be passed over what is termed a crownv shaft forming a `sudden bend or'change 'of direction of the bolster, and the brush roll, `which is arranged to operate .either directly over the crown shaft .or at .a short distance beyond it, rubs the seasoninginto the skin while it has been straightened 'or Vspread out flat in i cure greater 'flexibjlity of the same than passing ;over the crown shaft.`

A great advantage which inheres in this arrangement is that the. skin `is not only straightened but is actually'stretched especially on the grain side to which the seasoning isto be applied. Itiwill be apparent that the fseasoning liquid soaks into and penetrates l,thezrain of the :skin .much more readily while'in its stretched `or openedzoutV condition Vthan itv could do and'has done on any other appliance heretoforelnuse.

ll'ly invention further consists in a. new.`

ar 1angement of wiresor bars whereby I seheretofore, while, at thesame vtime'{ jiviiig them siifiicient rcsiliency. to Vhold down the My invention further consists in novel` means .for eifecting adliustment of. the ;bar

carryi ng the x holding down V`wires, whereby the position of this bar and of its wires can nicety.

be [very quickly adjusted with extreme driving shaft orpnlley, so that the driving chain or belt is quickly 1 and positively tight-ene'd or loosened to any desired extent without the use of an idler for accomplishing this end. i i 4 Other novel features of construction and advantagefwill hereinafter more clearly appear in thedetailed description. r

For the purpose of illustrating niy iiivention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentaiities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organizedand that my invention is not limited to the precise varrangement and oi'- ganization .of these instrumentalities as herein shown Vand described. i

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the front of a leather seasoning' or machine embodying invention.

Fig. 2 represents a perspective rear view of the same machine.

Fig. 8 represents a diagrammatic view, showing the'manner Vof assembling and collocating the power transinission devices, the brush rolls, bolster and other adjuncts.

Fig. 4 represents a side elevation of a detached portion of a machine for tightening one of thesprocket chains einployed.

`Fig. 5:1'epresents a sectional' view, partly in elevation, showing` the brush rolls and the guiding wires juxtaposed therebetween.

Fix 6 repi'esents a. perspective view of a bar. :and the gnidlng wires therefor einwith the bar seen in Figs. G, 7 and 8. Fig'.A

10 represents a perspective view of an adjusting device .employed Fig. 11 represents a sectional vi ew of the Crown shaft, its brush roll and bearings for said crown shaft.

finishing one preferred form of apparatus whichihas been foundin practice to give satlsfactory results.V i

3 designates the main shaft whlch 1s qfmountediin suitable bearings in the lower portion of the machine and'is provided with the. tight and loose pulleys 4 and 5, whereby p'owerisapplied to Said main shaft from` any convenient source. Uponthe main shaft is mounteda sprocket 'wheel 6 around which passes 'sprocket chains 7; Thesprocket wheel 8 is mounted on theshaftv9 which carries mounted on the shaft 12. lvlounted on the shaft 12 is the sprocket the gear 10 which meshes with .a gear 11,

wheel 13 whichv actuates the sprocket ehain 14, ,which actuates the sprocket wheel 15,

V'sprocket wheel ,25

mounted von the shaft 16, which latter carries' a sprocket wheel 17, which actuates the sprocket' chain 18', which actuates the sprocket'wheel 19 mounted on the shaft 20. 21'jdesignates a sprocket wheel on the main shaft '3 which aetuates thesprocket chain 22'which actuates the sprocket wheel 23 Von`the shaft' 24, which actuates the which actuates the sprocket chain 26 which aetuates the Sprocket wheel 27, mou'nted on the Vshaft 28, which .also earries a gear 29,v saidfgear meshing with the gear30'mounted on the shaft V31 -which carries the sprocket wheel 32 which actuates the .sproeket chain 33, which actuates the sprocketwheel 34, mounted on the Slxafbg. i 1

36 designates a sprocket wheel Vmounted on Vthe shaft 24 which .actuates sprocket chai 37 which actuates the sprocket wheel 38 mounted onA the "shaft 39. The main shaft 3 'carries afsproeket'wheel 40 which actuates the sprock'et chain 41, which actuates thev sprocket wheel 42, mounted on the shaft 44, which .shaft carriesV a sprocketj `wheel 45, which actuates the sprooket chainV 46, which actuates the sprocket wheel 47 f ,i mountedv on the shaft 48.

49 designates a gear wheel mounted on the shaft 48 Vwhich is invmesh with the gear 50 mounted on the shaft 51, which carries thesprocket wheel 52,which actuates the sprocket chain' 53, which actuates 'the i i sprocket wheel 54, I'nounted` on thel shaft 55.

The intermeshing of the lgears V10 and 11 causes the rotationof the sprocket wheel 56 which is. mountedl Von "the -shaft 12, said sprocket wheel 56 actuating the sprocket chain 57, which actuates the sprocket wheel 58 inounted on the shaft 59, which latter carries a sprocket wheel 60' which actuates the sprocket chain 61 which passes around the sprocket wheel 62 mounted on the shaft 63.

The shaft 48 has mounted upon it the drum 64, while the shaft 44 has niounted thereon the drum 65, around which passes the endles's apron or bolster 66, the direc' tion of .travel of the latter being apparent from Fig. 3, it being seen that said apron passes over the crownshaft roller 67 so that the skin. 68, during its travel over the elevated portions of the apron or bolster G6 will have its grain side somewhat stretched, so as to receive the requisite amount of the seasoning.

69 designates a Cleaning roll which is ni'ounted upon the shaft 39 and whose function is to clean thecontiguous surfaces of the apron or bolster 66. In the upper portion of the machine are located a plurality of brush rolls, as the brush roll 70 mounted on the shaft 63, the brush roll 71 inounted on the shaft 59, the brush roll 72 mounted on the shaft 16, the bru'sh roll 73 mounted on the shaft 20, and the brush roll 74 mounted on the shaft 35, it being apparent that in the present instance I have shown five of these brush rolls which are adapted to thoroughl;7 coatV the skin with the 'seasoning material during its passage or travel on the bolster, although it will be apparent that the number of said brush rolls can be increased or diminished, if desired, without departing from the 'spirit of my invention.

76 designates a pan for the reception of the seasoning liquid, which latter is perniitted to flow :toward or upon the fiuted roll 77, seen at the upper left hand portion of Fig. 3, whereby the seasoning liquid is conducted to the eontiguous bru'sh roll 74.

Referring now to Fig. 5, I have shown the brush rolls 71 and 70 in conjunction with my novel device for holding'the skin down on the bolster 66. while traveling toward and through the'brush rolls, said device consisting of a bar 78 having wires 79 secured therein by means of a *set screw 80, said Wire having the upwardly and outwardly curved vportion 81 which is bent down and partly around a bar 78, a plurality of said wires 79 being employed and projecting preferably parallel, as will be understood from Fig. 6, and having their terininals 82 preferably turned upwardly. The manner of securing the'bar 78 in position with respect to the juxtaposed brush rolls will be understood from Figs. 7 and 8, the bar 78 Vbeing supported in the guides 83, and the bottom of the bar being in contact with the cam 84 mounted on the shaft 85 having the manually operated nut 86, which is locked answers apparent th'atvby rotatingfithe nut 86, the

' operative surface' of'the cam face "can be raised or lowered accordin' to requirements, thereby simultaneously raising or lower-ing the bar 78 and-the wires 82 carried thereby. By means 'of-the wing` nuts 88 which are carried by the -threadedJ stem 89, which is attached to the bar 7 8, it will be apparentthat by `Fmanipulating lsaid wing n'uts,` the bar can be lockedin the desired position, sothat the wires 82 will be at the desired distance away from the bolsterror apron 66.

In order to properly adjust the tension of the bol'sterv',` the shaft 48 is moved either towa'rd the front or toward'the rear of the machine by meansxof the adjusti'ng .screws 90 and 91 fit'ted in the frame of the machine and connected to thefjournal boXes of the sha'ft 48, Vsof'fthat `4by rotating saidrods 90 and 91, the drum 164 maybe ;brought closer to or `fartl'ier from the drum 65.

The sha-ftf48 has -loosely fitted thereon a segment 92 providedl with a slot 93 adapted to receive a stationaryf pin '94 that projects from the fr-ame12 so that=said segment may be turned o'n the shaft '428 to properly locate thefsprocket wheel 52 with respect to .the wheel 54,"-after`which the segment 92 may be Vlocked 'in adjusted position on vthe pin 94:

p by'any well known means,`-as the nut 95.

It will be n'oted thatfinfFiglthe pin :94 is not located-'within theV1 slot 93 of the segment 92 and this isdone with a View to more clearly' illustrate` certain other parts of the machine. p

It will beapparent from the construction seen in Figsa and 10 that the segment e92 carries thelstudor pin '51, the gears 49 and 50 'being`` always mesh with each other.

It will be seen from Fig. 170 that Vwhen the nut or other fastening' device carried by the pin 94 is loosened, the segment 92 can'ibe rotated to a small extent about its center pin 48 and the sprocket chain 53 may be tight-A .intermeshing'of said' gears remains undisturbed 110 matter' in what position said arm or segment 92 may 'be placed. w

It will be understood that the Various shafts which vcarrythe drums` breast rol'ls, sprocl'etlwheels and thelr' adjuncts 'which have heretofore been idescribed' may be mounted and V`posltioned 1n al somewhat 'd1fferent manner than heretofore described without clep'arting` fromthespirit of my :in-

Venti-on'but I have lshown in the'diagrami matic'vlew seenl in Flg. 3 one preferred form of assemblingand cerr'elating these elements which If' have found; ``to give' very iSatisfactory7 'efficien't "results practice, the "di-` rection of movem'ent of the brush rolls, crown shaft, sprocket 'chains, sprocket Wheels and their coacting' sha'fts and gearing` being'` apparent .from the diagramm'atic view inFig. takenflin conjuiiction with the p'ersp'ectivetiews infFigsrl and 2. i

I desire tocall specialattentionto the ar:

.ranoement and collocation of the Crown sha` 't or roller' 67 which :it willl be understood -rotates freely' or as fan'idler and which 1s preferably mounted in respect to the juxtaposed roll 72 substantially 'as indicated. `1n the dlagrammatlc view in Flg 3, 'sothat the apron or bolster 66 trai'els 'over said crown shaft at an angle as indicated, whereby the grain side of the skin l628 will in 'every instance upon assuming, the position seen in Fig. 3 be stretched and treated or coated and' subjected' to the 'action of the *contiguo'u's brush roll or cylinder in the inann'er described, |which vis an entirely novel feature in I'nachine's` of this character.l

I also desireto call attention `Jto thelnovel' combination and coilocation of the crown shaft 67 and-'the juxtaposed coacting` brush roll 72 in conju'nction' with'thedrums Sat-and which effect the progression of the bolster or apron 'together with the Cleaning' roll. 69, seen in Fig's. 1 and 3, which combination of elements, so far as I am aware, is novel' with'me. i y It will beapparent from Fig. 3 that I have shown the axis of the brush roll '72 as slightly out of alinement with the axis of the Crown shaft or crown roller or idler 67 but it 'will be apparentthat if desiredVthe`` i aXes-of 1said breast roll 7`21and crow'n shafti 67 maybe in Vertical alinement or maywbe adjustable with respect'to each other, aslwill be evident from 'the construction'fiseen 'in Fig; 11, wherein I have shown'theLbearings' for the crownshaft G7 'as capable of lateral 'ad'jus'tment with `respect to the bearings foi` the brush roll 72. shown one form of bearings for said Crown sha-ft 67, the journals of the latter being rotatably 'mounted `in the bar 96 having'`` the slots'97 in the ends thereof, said slots beingl cngaged by'the bolts .98,so thatuponlooseni 111,9; said bolts, the bar 96 can be adjusted iu i either direction according 'to requirements.

In `the' operation of the' seasoning'of a skin, the operator stands at the front of thema:V` chine' seen in Fig. 1. 'The skinstobe treatedare placedon. the 'u'pwardly inclined por! tion' of theapron or bolster GG, seen in Pig. 1, and passed initially beneath ``the front brush roll or cylinder 7:4;4 which is always wet'with the seasoning'liquor conveyed to it by the 'fluted roll 7 7 it being` apparent thatl each of the iiutes in said roll 77 carry down to the brush roll 74 a fixed 'quantity of the seasoning' liquoiz w It will beapparent that 'the fro'nt'brushv rol`l`7l whichpreferablyrevolves at ``z'tleout .n said Fig. `11` have i 'fifty revolutions per minute initially applies the seasoning liquor to the outer surface` of the skin, said seasoning liquor being' rubbed into the body. of the skin asthe latvter advances bythe foursucceeding brush `rolls V73, 72,71 and '70, as will be understood'from the diagrammatic view in Fig. 3.

i I preferably drive such brush rolls in such a manner'that eachrsuccessive brush roll rotates at a progresslvelyincreaslng speed. Forl example, in practlce, I drive the 1n1- tial brushroll 74: Latthe rate ,of about fifty revolutions perv minute, the brush roll 7 3 at about'69 revolutions per minute, the brush roll or cylinder 72 at about 110 revolutions per minute, while the brush 'cylinder 71. re-

' volves at about Vone hundred and thirty revol'utions per minute, and the brush cylinder Vtions per minute. i 'o a i i l,Theforegolng comparatlve. speed of revolutlon of the varlous brush rolls or cylin- V' 70 at about one hundred and fifty revolu- '20 i i dersis what may be usually employed for brush rolls, it being' understood that the other or desired x, quirements.

above' suggested speed of revolutions vper I. minute forthe various brush rolls are stated for thel purposeV of illustration of the'capabilitiesof my machine, and that in practice thesebrush 'cylinders may be driven atlany speeds, ,according to re- Attention is called to the fact that it is 'ordinarily desirable or `p-referable to rotate the bru'sh roll 72'which is juxtaposed' to and coacts with the crown shaft 77 at a 'con- `siderably,higher rate of speed than the brush, roll 73, for the reason that when the' skin'GSreachesthe positionindicated in Fig. 3,the` 'skin'being somewhat stretched, the contiguous brush roll 72 not only has the dual'ffunction z of rubbing' the seasoning liquor into the skin but in-addition'it also serves to. propel or advance the skin over Vandaround the apex of the angle formed by the ,Crown shaft under the endless apronf orbolster l66, said ;brush 'roll 72 serving also to eXert a pull upon the skin while'it is'held'tightly between the crown shaft and- 'juxtaposed'brushroll, so that'whilesaid "skin is passing over'the crown shaft, it is in a tautgor stretched condltlon.V

The outerj'or grain surface of the skin being straightened and stretched eficiently on said grain side, into which the seasoning is to be rubbed during its passage over the Crown shaft, the seasoning consequently penetrates the grain of the skin much more thoroughly and efficiently by reason of its stretched or opened out condition and it is 'less frilled or stand up especially about the flanks and brisket of the skins. As these frilled up portions of the skin pass under the brush rolls, the tendency and difiiculty heretofore has always been that the frilled portions would be folded or plaited, making three thicknesses of leathcr instead of one. VVhen this happens, it will be clear that a double surface of the skin under the plait could not be acted upon by the brush roll, this being' what is termed a skip. At other times, what is termed a pocket would be formed in which the seasoning liquid would lie and afterward cake. `The result of this caking would be that the skin would' be marked wherever a cake had existed. My novel crown shaft has the function of spreading out all plaited or frilled portions of the skin, so that by the time the skin has passed over the angle formed by the crown shaft the same is fiat and straight. It will be apparent that the formation of all frills, plaits, skips or pockets are avoidcd by my novel construction, as the skin in its passage over the crown shaft is spread out preferably flat and in that condition isl acted upon by the brush roll 72, it being apparent that the upper stretch of the apron 66 owing to the position of the crown shaft 67 moves in an upwardly inclined plane, as will be understood from Figs. 1 and 8, then passes around the crown shaft or roll 67 and then travels in a downwardly inclined plane, as seen in Fig. 2. i

By the provision of the novel skin guiding and holding means, seen in Figs. 5 to 8, I am enabled to adjust the position thereof with respect'to the skin 68, it being seen that the lower portions of the wires 01' rods 79 exten'd substantially parallel to the apron 66.7while their other extremities are curved in a semi-circularor other form and con- Vnected to a bar which is operatively mounted with respect to the adjusting eccentrics.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a new` and useful machine for seasoning or finishing leather which embodies nasaes the features of advantage enumerated asdesirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, andwhile I have, m

- the'present instance, shown and described preferred embodiments thereof which w-ill give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same are susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim as'new and desire ,to secure by Letters Patent, istl. In a leather finishing machine, a brush roll, means to bring a skin into operative relationship with said brush roll, and means comprising a crown shaft rotating as an idler and an endless apron passing upwardly and downwardly thereover for stretching and opening the grain side of said skin when it is in proximity to said brush roll.

2. In a leather finishing machine a skin carrying apron, means to actuate it, a brush roll, means comprising a crown shaft rotating as an idler and an endless apron passing upwardly and downwardly thereover for producing acrown or bend in said apron in proximity to its point of contact with said brush roll, and means to actuate said brush roll. a i

3. In a leather finishing machine, a brush roll, a skin carryingapron, means comprisingl a crown shaft' rotating as an idler over which said apron passes upwardly and downwardly for causing the upper surface i of the skin placed on said apron to be stretched or opened in proximity to the point of. its contact with said brush roll, means to actuate said apron, and means to actuate said brush roll.

4. In a leather finishing` machine, a skin carrying apron, means to actuate it, means comprising a rotatable crown shaft located above and substantially midway between the outer portions of said apron for producing a crown or bend in said apron, a brush roll for initiallywapplying seasoning liquor to said skin, and a second brush roll located in proximity to said crown.V

5. In a leather finishing machine, a skin carrying apron, means to actuate it, means comprising` a freely rotatable crown sliaft located above and substantially midway between the outer portions of said apron for producing,` a crown or bend in said apron, said crown shaft being located below said apron at the apeX of the angle formed at theJ upper portion thereof, a brush roll for 'initially applying seasoning liquor to said skin, and a second brush roll located in proximity. to said crown, in` combination with means to rotate said brush rolls at varying rates of speed.

6. In a leather finishing machine, a brush roll, a traveling apron having a crown therein, a rotatable crown shaft located below said apron at the apex or` crown thereof,said apron being adapted to bring a skin into operative relationship with said brush roll, and means for cleaning said apron.

7. In a leather finishing machine, a 'plurality of drums, a rotatable crown shaftlocated above said drums, an endless apron passing over said drums and upwardly and downwardly over said crown shaft, abr'ush roll located above said apron in proxin'iity to said crown shaft, and means for rotating' said drums and brush roll. i

8. In a leather finishing machine, a plurality of drums, a freel'y rotatable Crown shaft located above said drums, an endless apron passing over said drums ,and Vupwardly and downwardly over said crown shaft, and brush rolls rotatably mounted above said apron-and in proximit)v thereto.

9. In a leather iinishing machine, a plurality of drums, a freely rotatable Crown shaft located above said drums, an endless apron passing over said drums and upz wardly and downwardly over said crown sliaft, a brush roll for initially applying a liquor to the skin to be treated and other brush rolls for rubbingsaid liquor into said skin.

10. In a leather finishing machine, a plurality of drums, a freely rotatable crown shaft located above saidV drums, an endless apron passing over said .drums and up-` successive brush rolls to rotate at progressively increasing` speeds.

12. In a leather finishing machine, a skin carrying apron, end drums around vwhich said apron passes, a crown shaft intel'- mediate said drums and located thereabove to cause the upper stretch of the apron to travel in an upwardly inclined plane and then in a downwardly inclined plane, brush rolls coperating with the upper surface of said apron, one of said brush rolls being mounted in proximity to said crown shaft, means to actuate said rolls, and means to actuate said brush cylinders.

13. In a leather finishing machine, a plurality of drums, a freely rotatable Crown shaft located above said drums, an endless apron passing over said drums and upwardly and downwardly over said crown w shaft, a brush roll vfor initially applying a liquor to the skin to be treated, a brush roll jlocated inproximity to said crown shaft liquor to said skin, a second brush roll located above'said apron and adapted to rotate at a higher rate lof speed, a third brush roll located in proximity to said i crown shaft, and adapted to rotate at a still higher speed, and other brush rolls located at the rear of said machine above said apron.

15. In a leather finishing machine, an apron adaptecl to support a skin, means to actuate said apron, a plurality of skin guiding, and holding devices having one extremity substantially parallel With said apron and the other extremity curved in Semicircnlar` form, and means to support said devices.

16. In a leather finishing machine, an apron adapted .to support a skin, means to actuate said apron, a plurality of skin guiding and holding devices having one eX- tremityextending parallel with said apron and the other extremity curved, a bar connected With the free end of the curved portion of the devices, and means to support and adjust said bar. i

17. In a leather finishing machine, a plurality of rods adapted to hold down or guide a skin during its passage through the machine, said rods extending substantially parallel to the line of travel of the skin, a bar for supporting said rods, and cam means operatively connected with said bar to adjust its position.

18. In a leather finishing machine, a pair of drums, a crown shaft located above said drums, an endless apron passing around said drums and upwardly and downwardly over said crown shaft, a brush roll located above said apron, means for actuating said drums and brush roll, and means for ad- ]'usting the tension of said apron.

19. In a leather finishing machine, a plnrality of drums, a freely rotatable crown shaft located above said drums, an endless apron passing over said drums and upwardly and downwardly over said crown shaft, a brush roll located above said apron,

lmeans for actuating said drums and brush roll, and means for Cleaning said apron.

20. In a leather finishing machine, a pair of drums, a crown shaft located above .said drums, an endless apron passing around said drums and upwardly and downwardly over said crown shaft, a brush roll located above said apron, means for actuating said drums and brush roll, means for adjusting the tension of said apron, and means for cleaning said apron.

JAMES U. FLANAGAN.

IVitnesses E. HAYWARD FAIRBANKS, FRANK I. SLoooM.

Copies of'thlspate nt may be obtained for five cnts each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

